If you are travelling near the estuaries or coastal marshlands in the Abel Tasman then you may be lucky enough to catch sight of the elegant kōtuku, or white heron.
The white heron has pristine, white plumage, tall dark legs, along yellow bill, and a very long neck with its distinctive “S” shape that it maintains in flight.
Although common in China, Japan, India and Australasia, the white heron is rare in New Zealand, with a small population of only 150 – 200 individuals. New Zealand’s sole breeding colony is on the Waitangiroto River, near the Ōkārito Lagoon on the West Coast of the South Island. On the brink of extinction in New Zealand, the white heron was declared a flora and fauna reserve in1941 and in 1976 became the protected Waitangiroto Nature Reserve. Kōtuku from around the country converge on the colony around August to breed. Eggs are laid in September or October. At around 10 weeks after hatching the young birds leave the nest to fend for themselves. The colony disperses around the end of Summer.
The Māori proverb “He kōtuku rerenga tahi” meaning “The white heron of a single flight” was used to describe a rare visit by a distinguished guest, or rare event. For some, sighting the kōtuku was a once in a lifetime privilege. As solitary hunters, kōtuku wade through estuaries and wetlands searching for small fish, inanga, eels, frogs, tadpoles and insects. Their long legs, necks and beaks are perfect adaptations for this.
Living for 15-20 years these gentle, rare and regal birds are a living treasure and deserving of our admiration and protection!
Sources: https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz and Te Ara -The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand
